So, as a Pastor I try not to get too deep into politics. It is not the “separation of Church and State thing.” It is just I represent a church full of people of various political opinions. I may speak too boldly on a particular area that some/many believe in differently. However, if asked, I will share my views and opinions.

I have sat across a table drinking coffee with folks that totally disagree with me in their politics, morals, religious beliefs, or life values. I still drank my coffee and made the best of the situation.

I have friends and have pastored folks that were rich (very wealthy!) and some who didn’t have two nickels to rub together. Folks who were highly educated and some who never finished high school. There have been doctors, dentists, a pharmacist, a college professor, plant managers, electricians, plumbers, and general laborers. I have agreed with some, disagreed with some, and agreed to disagree with others.

I have friends that are Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopal, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, Mormon and Jehovah Witness. We discuss theology and agree on some things and disagree on others. Sometimes our conversations got heated as we each expressed our convictions. You wondering where I’m going with this? (Hang in there.)

In all these areas, with each of these people (or groups), with all of these beliefs, I never once was angry enough to kill anyone. When I was proved to be in the wrong, a debate went the wrong direction, or a direction I did not want it to go, never did I ever entertain the thought of taking a life to make my point.

This is what we, as a nation, witnessed Wednesday, September 10th with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Someone who disagreed, had a different opinion or maybe Charlie Kirk, in a debate, made them and their point of view less than attractive, took it upon themselves to murder Charlie.

Understand, I am not saying that I agree with everything about Charlie Kirk. As a matter of fact, I don’t even agree with my wife on everything (or my kids, deacons, politicians or anyone for that matter). Charlie Kirk was a smart man (self-taught), an entrepreneur, a good communicator, and had a great rapport with college students.

But, my favorite thing about this man was his faith. Charlie Kirk was a born again believer in Jesus Christ. Regardless of whether Charlie was debating on school, economics, sexuality, transgender and homosexual agenda, or gun control, socialism or communism, he would always bring in the Gospel, and a relationship with Jesus.

I spent way too much time Wednesday on social media reading posts on Kirk’s death. It was encouraging in some ways and disappointing in other ways. Many people showed grief and heartbreak while others were celebrating that this menace was now out of the way with his rhetoric and hate speech. I was seriously taken aback with the latter comments.

What have we come to as a nation, as a people, or society? When did it ever become okay to use violence because we disagree with someone or they disagree with us?

If something is on TV, Facebook, or YouTube that I disagree with, I turn it off. If it is on the radio, I change the station. If there is a rally, parade, or demonstration that I can’t support, I stay home or go somewhere else. If a store has a policy that I disagree with, I shop somewhere else. Get the point?

Charlie Kirk went to college campuses to tell students the truth of life…college, relationships, religion and morality. He also was a patriot, and told the students what it means to be a patriot, the difference between communism, socialism, and capitalism, and that gender is assigned at birth not when and what you want. Some could handle the truth, and some could not.

But Charlie Kirk’s telling the truth got him labeled as racist, bigot, homophobe, hater, chauvinist, and white supremacist just to name a few. He would take these names, laugh at some and speak against some of the others. And, he never lost his temper or responded with violence.

Yet, this is exactly how his life was ended, with violence from a gun and a differing opinion. Telling the truth is usually not easy, very seldom widely accepted, and usually divisive. In Acts 7 & 8, Stephen telling the religious elite truth got him stoned!

My main thrust of this article is a life was taken from a young man, a husband and father of two kids, all because of a disagreement of truth. Let me close with a couple of thoughts.

First, realize that your beliefs, thoughts, opinions or politics will probably cause someone to disagree with you, and their views will do the same with others. Get used to it.

Second, agree to disagree. Find neutral ground and live on it, not fight over it.

Finally, violence can never be an option. If it bothers or upsets you this much, go somewhere else, hang out elsewhere, or don’t be around the one that you disagree with.

Keep Charlie Kirk’s family in your prayers.

Bro. Tim